Aug 29

Style Citation- Animal Experimentation

Published on 29 Aug 2010 at 10:38 PM

Help us cure the victims of cosmetic tests enpapuppy

Ask the experimenters why they experiment on animals, and the answer is:  "Because the animals are like us."  Ask the experimenters why it is morally okay to experiment on animals, and the answer is:  "Because the animals are not like us."  Animal experimentation rests on a logical contradiction. 

-Professor Charles R. Magel

Aug 26

Word of the Week- Lamé

Published on 26 Aug 2010 at 10:09 PM

marilynmonroegolddress Word: Lamé
Pronunciation:  la-mey
Function: noun
Date: 1920–25
Meaning: An ornamental fabric in which metallic threads, as of gold or silver, are woven with silk, wool, rayon, or cotton.

Aug 26

Cruelty Free Perfumes/Fragrances

Published on 26 Aug 2010 at 9:40 PM

ENPA_Spray

It’s not enough to condemn perfumes that use animal testing, because anyone can do that. I needed to take it a step further, and look for alternatives that my readers and I can use.

I’m splitting my finds into three sections, the first one being companies I know are cruelty free. Starting with The Cruelty Free Shop, which has three 100ml fragrances at $30 each, a little expensive for the amount but could work if you’re buying more than one item on the online store. Next is Dolphin Clinic’s solid perfume sticks, which looks like a lip balm and contains no parabens, sulphates, phthalates, or alcohol- all you need to do is find a stockist. After that is Lush, who have a great range best seen instore. If you want designer-style fragrances, you can check out Le Reve / House of Scents in Greenhithe. The four most expensive options are MAC Cosmetics, Bobbi BrownL’occitane and Jo Malone, but their stores are easy to find and at Jo Malone you can create your own signature scent.

Coming in second are anti-animal testing subsidiary companies whose parent companies pursue testing with no apologies, or use lawyers lingo to soothe the masses, but don’t actually admit they don’t test on animals or contract with companies that conduct animal tests on their behalf. The best example I can find is The Body Shop (parent company L'Oreal), but their fragrances are good value, and probably will be my first choice when I buy another perfume. I know it’s not very ethical of me to do so, but they do support some good causes.

Then coming in third, there's two companies I’m undecided whether they’re cruelty free or not, Avon and Estee Lauder.

It’s not hard (or expensive) to switch to animal friendly products. Here’s a Choose Cruelty Free list to look at to see if you’re on the right track.

Aug 26

Inspired By…Lindsay Weir’s Army Jacket

Published on 26 Aug 2010 at 8:06 PM

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If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll know I just finished watching Freaks and Geeks, a teenage drama show about two siblings living in the 80’s trying to find their way through high school. My favourite character was Lindsay Weir, an intelligent but alienated teen who feels disillusioned with her studious life. Lindsay starts wearing her father’s army jacket after the death of her grandmother, and styling herself in a tomboyish way- far from the buttoned up, feminine style she had as a ‘mathlete’.

Mave Pocket Military Anorak $35Indiana Anorak $60AUDCrop Parka $200

Now the surplus look is back, and you can pick up jackets at almost every chain store in the country. I cannot pull off tomboy even if I tried (damn you, feminine body), but when I did hiking for school trips I used to wear something quite similar. These jackets are great for a casual outfit, and a military alternative to denim jackets. Mouse over the pictures for prices, and click to head through to the product page. I may have to wander into Cotton On and try one on…wish they had them in grey!

Aug 26

R.I.P Aaliyah

Published on 26 Aug 2010 at 1:51 AM

still_here

Aug 25

The Ruby & Madame Hawke Designer Clearance Sale!

Published on 25 Aug 2010 at 10:38 PM

OMG FREE SAUSAGE SIZZLE!!!!!!!!!!!

They had me at ‘free sausage sizzle’…

Aug 25

Sartorial Portal

Published on 25 Aug 2010 at 7:00 PM

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When you’re sick of all your clothes- Jezebel

The strangest jobs in fashion- Independent

Do thick glasses make you look cool- or look like a tool? – Details

Melbourne designer talking about ‘boutique territorialism’- Ragtrader

63 Ways to personalise your look- Marie Claire

The rise and (inevitable) fall of American Apparel- Guardian

Check out the best dressed at Stockholm Fashion Week- Elle 

Shopping for Spring- Stuff.co.nz

Tommy Hilfiger’s guide to classic style- Glamour

How to achieve a ‘rockabilly roll’ in three steps- The Sun

Vintage style for the modern day woman- The Age

Accessories 101- Jezebel

How to look great in a pair of blue denims- LA Times

Daisy Lowe: Get the look- The Fashion Spot

Grab the latest purse trend by the handle- 3 News

Aug 25

Brand Clearance Warehouse Clearance

Published on 25 Aug 2010 at 3:37 AM

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I love these guys, their staff is so nice and they have some great street wear brands. I’ve already picked up a few pieces for me and my partner, I highly recommend that you check it out if you live in the area.

Aug 24

August Beauty Buys

Published on 24 Aug 2010 at 4:28 AM

Beauty Buys 1

Natio Delicate Eye Cream , Boots No 7 Gentle Renewing Exfoliator, Biore Restore Skin-Boosting Night Serum, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, Biore Rejuvenate Cooling Eye Gel Total Price: $44

I’ve been feeling dissatisfied with my eye creams, and I still haven’t found one I’m sweet on yet. This month I was just going to buy something budget to get me through (The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye cream) until I could save up for a luxury eye cream, but I did some research and ended up getting the Natio Eye Cream as it was slightly cheaper (on sale at Pharmacy Direct) and is made specifically for people with sensitive skin (like myself).

I also haven’t had a good facial scrub, all the ones I’ve bought are supermarket brands that just don’t cut the mustard. So I was waiting for my old man to arrive in Onehunga, and I decide to wander through the Postie store. I don’t like their clothes, so I took a look at their cosmetics area, and found they have a whole range of Boots products, especially the Botanics Range (for those not in the know, Boots is a budget brand in the UK). I went home, did some research, and the next week I bought the scrub feeling confident that it would work.

The two Biore products and the Norwegian hand cream were all $5 each at the Life Pharmacy Outlet in Onehunga. I was rather annoyed I found a $5 eye cream when I paid four times the amount to have one sent to me. Argh!

Beauty Buys 2 Redwin Sorbolene Moisturiser, Organic Care Fine Fullness Shampoo & Conditioner, Cetaphil.Total Price: $44

My previous body moisturiser was the same brand, but was 1L for $10 from the Warehouse, and I found 2L of it in Kmart for $13. I’m not fussed about fancy packaging for body moisturiser, as I apply it almost every second day and the nice stuff only lasts a month or so and usually does jack all for my skin. The only con with this product is that it can have a slight medicinal smell in the bottle (probably because it’s fragrance-free) and it takes 5mins to sink in. But it’s great value for money, my skin is always soft and smooth, and I won’t run out for at least six months plus.

Thanks to an article on Organic Haircare, I was directed towards Natures Organics, an Australian brand that is stocked in The Warehouse, which is great because it’s easier to get my hands on and I don’t have to walk into a pretentious salon to purchase it (I’d rather crawl on broken glass than do that). I picked the Fine Fullness Shampoo & Conditioner because I’m trying to inject some body into my limp, fine hair and I don’t want to be massaging mousse through constantly.

The one naughty thing about Nature’s Organics is that they use Palm Oil, but this is what they wrote:

Natures Organics share your concerns with the supply shortages of Palm oil and the impact this is having on old growth forests in Indonesia.

We are always keen to look into alternative materials but our choices are limited to what is commercially viable and readily available in the global market. At present, the only substitute ingredient to palm oil is a form of animal fat.

Natures Organics have approached the use of this ingredient extremely ethically as we are very stringent in communicating to our suppliers that we will not accept materials that compromise our cruelty free policy.  This is a fundamental requirement that any supplier must satisfy before we consider doing business with them.  We source all of our Palm oil from Malaysia, the practices for cultivating is damaging in Indonesia because they are destroying and burning old growth forests to make way for Palm plantations. We have written assurances from all of our surfactant suppliers that they do not purchase any Palm oil from the affected areas and that if they do they will lose all business they have with Natures Organics and face legal action for misrepresenting themselves.

We are in the process of reformulating all of our products with new Sugar and Corn derived surfactants but this takes time and these new ingredients have only become recently available. Unfortunately at this present time we cannot get away from the fact that all surfactants and detergents come from either Petroleum derived or Coconut and Palm derived ingredients

All the ingredients are stated on our labels as we choose to do so. This is not a mandatory requirement for these types of household products, hence, many manufacturers do not provide such information on the labels of other products.

Natures Organics can assure you that we aim to protect the environment and its creatures.

I’m impressed that they admitted their usage of Palm Oil, and straightforwardly told the public that they will try to change their ingredients.

And last but not least, I got myself the perfect cleanser- Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. It will be part of my permanent skincare regime from now on, and it makes a great makeup remover. It’s fragrance-free, doesn’t strip the oils from your face, and doesn’t unbalance the pH levels of your skin.

So that’s my beauty buys this month, all I need now is a soothing day moisturiser that works for me…

Aug 24

Lilyhart ‘Flash Me’ Tie Jacket

Published on 24 Aug 2010 at 3:32 AM

tie blazerUntied 

Plucked from Melbourne and bought to Mt Eden, I strongly suspect Lilyhart’s second collection (Winter 2010) was inspired by the late Michael Jackson. I’d never heard of this label until I purchased the jacket from the Broken Puppet Boutique sale, and I wasn’t even going to try it on. But curiosity got the better of me, and I liked how it was businesslike yet casual at the same time. It’s perfect for the husband’s events where I have to be slightly dressier than usual, all I have to do is throw it over a dress or jeans and I’m set. The retail price was $300+ but I got mine for $65. Sweet!

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I don’t think you can buy the jacket in New Zealand anymore, so if you want it you might want to start hunting…